Verbena plant named ‘Balendluim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Balendluim’, characterized by its medium violet-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Verbena x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balendluim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant botanically known as Verbena x hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Balendluim’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during June 2012. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Verbena cultivars that are durable toenvironmental stresses, have dark green-colored foliage, and amounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Verbena cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Verbena x hybridabreeding selection coded 9277, not patented, characterized by its lightviolet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous,spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar isthe proprietary Verbena x hybrida breeding selection coded 9205, notpatented, characterized by its dark violet-colored flowers, darkgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growthhabit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollinationduring May 2013 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceMay 2013 in Guadalupe, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstratedthat the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balendluim’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Medium violet-colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having a dark flower color and more mounded growth habit.Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parentprimarily in having a lighter flower color and more growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Verbena cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is EnduraScape Blue ‘Balendlu’, notpatented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Balendlu’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is        slightly different from plants of ‘Balendlu’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more branches than plants of        ‘Balendlu’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of        ‘Balendlu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balendluim’. Theplants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse in WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balendluim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balendluim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in November 2016 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 6 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch attransplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 66°F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 58° F.to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levelsof 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during theday. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplants.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena x hybrida cultivar Balendluim.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Verbena x hybrida breeding            selection coded 9277, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Verbena x hybrida breeding            selection coded 9205, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            mounded-spreading.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 9.0 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 4.        -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.            Length: Approximately 14.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately            3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.5 cm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and            colorless, transparent. Color of young stems: 144A. Color of            mature stems: 138A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 10. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, obtuse angle with            age. Shape: Ovate to oblong. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Broadly            acute to rounded. Base: Truncate. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Length of mature leaf: Approximately 4.5 cm. Width of mature            leaf: Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of upper surface:            Moderately pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely            pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular            hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper            surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to but darker            than N137A with venation of 147C. Color of lower surface of            young and mature foliage: Closest to 138A with venation of            147C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Mixture of N92C and colorless, transparent. Color: 147C to            147D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balendluim’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Corymb. Shape: Hemispherical.            Quantity per plant: Approximately 4. Fragrance: None. Length            or height: 2.5 cm. Width: Approximately 6.0 cm. Quantity of            fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 14.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:            Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and            colorless, transparent. Color: 138A.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Sessile, salverform.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity of            unopened inflorescences per plant: Approximately 1.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, globular at apex.            Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately            3.0 mm. Color: Petal portion 90A, sepal portion 137B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Round. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused at base forming a tube. Shape:            Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin: Entire. Apex: Emarginate.            Length of upper petals from tube: Approximately 9.0 mm.            Width of upper petals: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of            lateral petals from tube: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width of            lateral petals: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length of lower petal            from tube: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of lower petal:            Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous            with glandular pubescent base. Texture of lower surface:            Sparsely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and            colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when first            open: Closest to N87A with N81A and N92A at throat opening.            Color of lower surface when first open: Closest to N82B with            darker margins of N82A. Color of upper surface when fully            open: Closest to N88B with N87A and N92A at throat opening.            Color of lower surface when fully open: N88C. Color of            whiskers surrounding the opening of the corolla tube: 90A.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at            proximal end: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at distal end:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of outer surface: Upper half            moderately glandular pubescent, lower half glabrous. Gland            color: N92C. Texture of inner surface: Densely pubescent.            Color of outer surface: 145D with a faint overlay of N82A            nearest lower petals. Color of inner surface: 145D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with 5 acute tips. Length:            Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:            Linear. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Moderately            pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with            a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Mixture of N92C and colorless, transparent. Color of inner            and outer surfaces: 137B.        -   Stipules.—Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length:            Approximately 6.0 mm. Width at base: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer            surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Mixture of N92C and            colorless, transparent. Color of inner and outer surfaces:            144A at base transitioning to 137A at apex.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4,            didynamous. Stamen length of longer pair: Approximately            2.0 mm. Stamen length of shorter pair: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately            1.0 mm. Anther color: 154C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: 11D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil            length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma            length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 137A. Style length:            Approximately 1.6 cm. Style color: 145D tinted with 187A            near stigma. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary            texture: Glabrous. Ovary color: N144C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Verbena has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plantnamed ‘Balendluim’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.